Sign structure



June 21, 1966 R. WHITMAN 3,256,629

SIGN STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1964 INVENTOR 52 ROBERT L WHITMAN .FIG. 7FIG. 8 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,256,629 SIGN STRUCTURE Robert L.Whitman, Jackson, Mich., assignor to Handley Industries, Inc., Jackson,Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 6, 1964, Ser. No. 365,317 3Claims. (Cl. 40125) This application is a continuation-in-part of myUnited States application Serial No. 225,705, filed September 24, 1962,now abandoned.

The invention pertains to sign structure, and particularly relates tosign structure of the type which is portable and usually temporary,employed at the site of highway construction and maintenance projects towarn motorists of unsafe conditions, control traffic, and the like.

To be effective, a highway sign, even though used for temporarypurposes, must be of a relatively large size so that it may be readilyvisible. Such signs are transported to and from the location of use andare subjected to considerable abuse during transportation and handling.Also, this type of sign is usually placed close to the path of vehiculartraffic and, thus, is subject to air currents produced by rapidly movingautomobiles and trucks. As this type of sign is often accidentallytipped over by such air currents, the impact of striking the groundtends to damage the sign and the bracket attaching the sign to abarricade or similar supporting structure.

This type of temporary sign often consists of a metal panel which ismounted on barricades or similar supporting structure. Normally, thesigns are of a square or rectangular configuration and employ a bracketrigidly attached tothe back of the sign to attach the sign to thesupport. As the signs are usually of a single sheet construction, theirlarge size makes transportation, handling and storage ditficult, and theindicia-receiving face of the sign is often damaged during handling andtransport.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sign structure which iscapable of producing a relatively large indicia surface, yet is foldableto a concise and portable size conducive to handling and transportation.

A further object of the invention is to provide sign structure which isrugged, lightweight and capable of withstanding considerable abusewithout adversely affecting the indicia-receiving face of the sign. Thisfeature is of particular importance wherein the indicia-receiving signsideis coated with light reflective material as is particularlydesirable in highway signs.

Another object of the invention is to provide sign structure consistingof a pair of panels interconnected by a hinge wherein the pivot axis ofthe hinge is so related to the sign supporting means that the unfoldedsign panels, when supported, are rigidly related.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yieldable supportingbracket wherein excessive forces imposed on the bracket will cause thebracket to yield without damage occurring to the bracket or the deviceassociated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yieldable supportingbracket employing torsion portions adapted to resiliently yield whenpredetermined forces are applied thereto, whereby the application ofsuch forces does not harm or deform the bracket.

Another object of the invention is to provide sign structure which maybe attached to an indicia-receiving sign face to modify the indicia onthe face.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the details andrelationships of the components of an embodiment thereof will beapparent from the following description and accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a sign, in accord with theinvention, as mounted on a barricade,

"ice

FIG. 2 is an elevational, enlarged, detail view of the back side of asign, in accord with the invention, as mounted on a barricade,

FIG; 3. is an elevational, sectional, enlarged, detail view of the signpanel and associated bracket as taken along section IIIIII of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, illustrating therelationship of the barricade and sign bracket componentsupon thebarricade being tipped backwardly and the upper corner of the signengaging the ground, wherein the bracket is yieldably deformed toprevent damage to the bracket or sign,

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the yieldable bracket,

per se,

FIG. 6 is anelevational, sectional view of the bracket of FIG. 5 takenalong section VIVI thereof,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, detail, elevational, sectional view of theauxiliary. sign structure as taken along section VIIVI'I of FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is another enlarged, detail, sectional view of auxiliary signstructure taken along section VIII-VIII of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional, elevational view of the signstructure in thefolded or closed position.

In the described embodiment, the sign in its fully operative or openposition is of a square configuration, as will be apparent from FIGS. 1and 2. Of course, the

concept of the'invention may be employed with signs of other than asquare configuration. The disclosed embodiment of the sign structureconsists of a pair of panels 10 and 12 of equal rectangular dimensionandconfiguration.

;Each panel is provided with a pair of parallel, longi- .tudinal, sideedges 14 and a pair of parallel end edges 16 intersecting thelongitudinal side edges of the associated panel at the radiused corners.The panels are interconnected by hinge structure 18 along onelongitudinal edge closed embodiment, it will be appreciated that thepanels 10 and 12 are of a length twice that of their width, whereby thecomplete configuration of the sign will be square.

The panels 10 and 12 are preferably of a planar sheet configurationconstructed from a lightweight, rigid material, such as that marketedunder the name Masonite, which has been weatherproofed or otherwisetreated for exterior use. The panels include a rear or back side 26 anda front face 28 constitutes an indiciareceiving surface on which lightreflecting paint or other suitable sign material may be affixed. Asshown in FIG. 1, the front indicia'panel faces include the words formand lane." Also, the panels include a horizontally disposed'line 30 of arelatively uniform width which constitutes the body of adirection-indicating arrow, as will be later described.

The hinge structure 18 interconnecting the panels along a longitudinaledge of each panel includes a pair of spaced hinges. Preferably, thehinges are of such construction that the pivot axis thereof will belocated slightly above the sign indicia face surface 28 when the panelsare in the unfolded or open position. The hinges are so formed that theshorter leg of the hinge strap is substantially equal to the thicknessof the panels, whereby the panels will be in a coplanar relationshipwhen opened, and an abutting engagement takes place between the shortportions of the hinge straps disposed between the adjacent longitudinalside edges 14 of the panels. Thus, pivoting of the sign beyond thecoplanar relationship is not possible, and rigidity between the panelsis obtained when the are encased within an extruded aluminum edging 32of channel configuration, note FIG. 9. The legs 34 of the edging extendover the front and rear surfaces of the panels and project beyond theplanes of the surfaces 26 and 28. Thus, when the panels are folded tothe closed position, as shown in FIG. 9, the legs of the edging willengage to maintain spacing between the face surfaces 28 of the panels,as will be apparent. The spacing between the folded sign panel indiciasurfaces protects the front surfaces from being scratched or marred andinsures an effective protection therefor.

The sign is supported by brackets 20 attached to the back side of thepanels. A single support bracket 20 is affixed to each panel, as will beapparent from FIG. 2. The brackets are preferably of a yieldable typewhereby should the sign be accidently tipped over, either forward orbackward, due to the air turbulence created by a passing vehicle, or thelike, the bracket will resiliently release its grip on the barricadecross member 22 to prevent damage from occurring to the sign.

The brackets 20 each include a base member 36 which, in the disclosedembodiment, is formed of extruded aluminum having a cross section aswill be apparent from FIG. 6. The base member 36 includes upstandingportions 38 defined adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof from whichinwardly depend flange portions 40 parallel to and spaced from theplanar portion 42 of the base member. Ribs 44 are also defined on thebase member extending from the portion 42 and of a height substantiallyequal to that of the wire hanger diameter, as will be apparent from FIG.6.

The bracket hanger 46 is preferably defined by a spring wire and isformed in the shape as will be apparent from FIGS. 3 through 6. Thehanger 46 includes spaced parallel anchor portions 48 adjacent the endsof the wire and the central region of the Wire is formed with a hairpinbend at 50. The hanger portions 52 are disposed at substantially rightangles to the adjacent anchor portion 48 and constitute torsion bars, ortorsion portions, due to their transverse relationship to the anchorportions. The hanger portions 54 depend from portions 52 and are of aplanar configuration adapted to lie adjacent the bracket portion 42, aswill be apparent from FIG. 6. Supportengaging hanger portions 56 dependfrom the hanger portions 54 at substantially right angles thereto in adirection away from the base 36. Hanger portions 58 depend from theportions again at substantially a right angle, and the portions 58 areinterconnected by the arcuate portion 50.

The hanger anchor portions 48 are each received within a retainerportion of the base member defined by a flange 40, portion 38 and baseportion 42, FIG. 6. The flanges 40 are deformed downwardly at 60 tomaintain the anchor portions in position within within the associatedbracket retainer portion, and the ribs 44 are notched at 62 to receivethe torsion portions 52. The hanger portions 56 are of such a lengththat the portions 58 will be spaced from the outer surface 64 of theflanges 40, FIG. 6, a distance slightly less than the horizontal widthof the barricade crossbar 22, whereby when the barricade crossbar isreceived within the hanger, as shown in FIG. 3, the hanger 46 willresiliently grip" the crossbar.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, the weight of the sign will bear on thehanger portion-s 56, thereby being trans- .ferred to the upper surfaceof the barricade. The hanger portions 56 of the two brackets define asign-supporting edge when'the sign panels are opened, and it will beappreciated that this edge is obliquely related to the pivot axis of thehinge structure 18 when the sign is in the operative or open position,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This relationship maintains the sign in theopen position when it is placed on the barricade and imparts a rigidityto the opened sign panels which would not be present if the pivot axiswere vertically or horizontally disposed.

Should the sign, as mounted on a barricade, be tipped backward, theupper corner of the sign will engage the 4- ground and tend to twist thesign relative to the barricade cross member. Such action would normallyplace very high stresses on the bracket and tend to pull the bracketfrom the sign. However, due to the yieldable nature of the hanger 46,relative to the base member 36, the hanger is capable of springingoutwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, whereby the torsion portions 52 permitthe hanger portions 54, 56 and 58 to move relative to the hanger anchorportions 48. Of course, should the sign fall forwardly any tendency forthe sign to twist relative to the crossbar will likewise be relieved dueto the yieldable nature of the hanger. The resilient yielding of thehanger 46 relative to the'base member 36 prevents the rivets 66, whichmount the brackets to the associated panel, from being pulled from thesign panels, and thereby prevents serious damage from occurring to thesign, or the bracket, should the barricade 24 be tipped over either inafor ward or backward direction.

If desired, U-shaped brackets 68 may be attached to the back of thepanel 12 adjacent the upper corner whereby a flag 70 may be insertedtherein.

Another feature of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8 wherebyremovable auxiliary indicia panels may be attached to the primary panels10 and 12 to modify the wording and direction of the indicia on the signand render the indicia more versatile than is possible with a sign ofconventional form. The indicia panel 72 may be in the form of anarrowhead, FIG. 1, and is provided with a hole 74 disposed above thecenter of gravity thereof.

Holes 76 are defined in the panels 10 and 12 above each end of the line30 whereby the panel 72 may be attached to the sign adjacent either endof the line 30 to indicate the pointing direction of the arrow formed bythe panel 72 and the line 30. The panel 72 is uniformly colored on eachside and may be attached to either the panel 10 or 12 by means of a nutmember 78 cooperating with a screw member 80 adapted to be insertedthrough the hole 76 in the associated panel through the back side of thepanel. By forming the hole 74 within the panel 72 above the center ofgravity thereof, only a single opening need be associated with the panel72 to produce the desired orientation to line 30.

The indicia initially formed on the sign panels 10 and 12 may indicatethat only one" lane is to be formed. If more than one lane is tobeformed, an auxiliary panel 82 may be aflixed to the sign to overliethe numeral 1 between the words Form and Lane and have an indiciagreater than the numeral 1, such as the 2 shown in FIG. 1, locatedthereon. The panel 82 is provided with a hole 84 adapted to align with ahole 86 defined in the panel 12 whereby the panel 82 may be aflixed tothe sign structure by means of the nut 88 and the screw 90, which aresimilar to those employed with the panel 72. As the panel 82 ispivotally connected to the sign structure by the single nut 88 and bolt90, the panel does not interfere with folding of the sign, in that itwill pivot out of an interfering position with the panel hinge axisduring folding of the sign panels to the closed position of FIG. 9.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the objectives of the inventionare produced by the described embodiment and the sign structure of theinvention permits a relatively large sign to be folded to a conciseconfiguration for handling and transportation. Furthermore, the signstructure, by the use of the yieldable bracket, is much less susceptibleto damage than similar sign devices employing a rigidtype bracket.

It is to be understood that various modifications to the disclosedembodiment may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, and it is intended that the inventionbe defined only by the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A yieldable supporting bracket comprising, in combination, a basemember having a support engaging surface defined thereon, spaced holdingelements defined on said base member, a resilient hanger having supportengaging portions defined therein, said support engaging portionsincluding a first portion disposed in spaced opposed relation to saidbase member support engaging surface and a second portion transverselydisposed to said first portion in the direction toward said base memberand defining a load bearing shoulder with respect to said first portion,anchor portions defined on said hanger received within and afiixed tosaid holding elements, and torsion portions defined on said hangerintermediate said anchor portions and said support portions permittingsaid support portions to be resiliently biased away from said basemember.

2. A sign structure comprising, in combination, a sign board having afront indicia-receiving face and a back side, a pair of spacedsupporting brackets mounted on the back side of said sign board, each ofsaid brackets including a base member having a support engaging surfacedefined thereon, spaced holding elements defined on said base member, aresilient hanger having support engaging portions defined thereon, saidsupport engaging portions including a first portion disposed in spacedopposed relation to said base member support engaging surface and asecond portion transversely disposed to said first portion in thedirection toward said base member and defining a load bearing shoulderwith respect to said first portion, anchor portions defined on saidhanger received within and affixed to said holding elements, and torsionportions defined on said hanger intermediate said anchor portions andsaid support portions permitting aid support portions to be resilientlybiased away from said base member.

3. A sign structure characterized by its ease of handling and resistanceto damage comprising, in combination, a pair of planar panels eachhaving first and second planar sides and a linear edge, hinge structureinterconnecting said panels at the linear edges thereof whereby saidpanels may be folded open about said linear edges to a coplanarrelationship and folded to a closed position wherein said first sidesthereof are disposed in opposed adjacent relationship, a supportingbracket having a base member affixed to said second side of each of saidpanels, each of said bracket base members having a support engagingsurface defined thereon, spaced holding elements defined on said basemembers, a resilient hanger having support engaging portions definedtherein, said support engaging portions including a first portiondisposed in spaced opposed relation to said base member support engagingsurface and a second portion transversely disposed to said first portionin the direction toward said base member and defining a shoulder withrespect to said first portion, anchor portions defined on said hangerreceived Within and afiixed to said holding elements, and torsionportions defined on said hanger intermediate said anchor portions andsaid support portions permitting said support portions to be resilientlybiased away from said base member, said hanger second portions eachdefining a load bearing supporting edge, said bracket supporting edgeslinearly aligning upon coplanarly relating said panels, said alignedsupporting edges being diagonally related to said linear edges and bingeaxis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 304,188 8/1884Eastman 24-261 X 448,967 3 1891 Leistner 24-261 620,522- 2/ 1899Williams 40-128 730,188 6/1903 Ek 24-26 11 X 747,222 12/ 1903 Reynolds24-261 X 1,138,265 5/1915 Vaslurgh 40-102 X 1,258,730 3/1918 Wood 40-125X 1,403,772 1/ 1922 Hannah 40-125 1,417,519 5/ 1922 Hannah 40-1251,476,898 12/1923 Lewis 40-125 1,727,336 9/1929 Cooper 40-102 1,774,7219/ 1930 Morris 40-102 1,832,941 11/1931 McNabb 40-125 2,065,624 12/1936Summers 40-102 2,120,418 6/ 1938 Sorenson 40-68 2,432,928 12/1947Palmquist 40-135 2,757,469 8/ 1956 Knudsen 40-125 2,975,539 3/1961Anderson 40-125 2,995,847 8/1961 Carpenter 40-125 FOREIGN PATENTS653,259 11/ 1928 France.

864,211 1/1953 Germany.

506,697 12/1954 Italy.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

JEROME SCHNALL, HERBERT Fv ROSS,

Assistant Examiners,

1. A YIELDABLE SUPPORTING BRACKET COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASEMEMBER HAVING A SUPPORT ENGAGING SURFACE DEFINED THEREON, SPACED HOLDINGELEMENTS DEFINED ON SAID BASE MEMBER, A RESILIENT HANGER HAVING SUPPORTENGAGING PORTIONS DEFINED THEREIN, SAID SUPPORT ENGAGING PORTIONSINCLUDING A FIRST PORTION DISPOSED IN SPACED OPPOSED RELATION TO SAIDBASE MEMBER SUPPORT ENGAGING SURFACE AND A SECOND PORTION TRANSVERSELYDISPOSED TO SAID FIRST PORTION IN THE DIRECTION TOWARD SAID BASE MEMBER